1000 Journals

Well, it's Sunday night and it's 11 o'clock. It's been a busy weekend already and normally by now, I would be tucked up in my bed, with the working week looming grimly.

This Sunday night however, I am happy to say is not a normal Sunday night... 

Thankfully tomorrow is a public holiday (Happy Birthday to the Queen) which means I will be able to ease more casually into what is normally a manic Monday morning and I will not be regretting this late night of googling and blogging.

But before I go, I really wanted to tell you about a great movie I have watched on ABC2 tonight. Hopefully you caught it too.

It was called 1000 Journals and is the documentary style movie about 1000 journals that were despatched by 'someguy' from San Francisco into the world in August 2000 and what has happened since.

I loved it. It was surprising and inspiring. And as a lover or journalling and all things creative (and being the nosey person I am), it was compelling viewing. And of course as soon as it was over, I jumped onto the website to take a look.

The covers are different on all 1000 journals. This one was designed by Australian artist Russell Tate.

Make sure you go take a look at the 1000 Journals website. Go see how it all came to be... Many many pages are scanned and waiting to be viewed and explored. People's stories and creativity is there for all to see. And if you love this 'stuff' as I do, you will find it hard to go to bed on time too!

Drawing on the right side of my brain...

Some years ago, I was introduced to the Betty Edwards book, "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain", you may have heard of it.

It's an extraordinary book that promises to "unlock the artist within and open up a new world of creative enjoyment."

Through it's tasks and lessons, you will soon discover that drawing is a skill that can be learned by every normal person with average eyesight and average eye-hand coordination-with sufficient ability, for example, to thread a needle or catch a baseball. Contrary to popular opinion, manual skill is not a primary factor in drawing. If your handwriting is readable, or if you can print legibly, you have ample dexterity to draw well.

The results in the book certainly show some incredible results, and whilst I have loved the book and done a few of the exercises and tasks, I have barely moved further than the first few chapters.

Just recently I read a post on Kate's blog about some classes she has been taking and it has inspired me to start... again...

Sophie Balchin has studied with the son of Betty Edwards, is a teacher in Melbourne, and she runs regular evening classes and workshops. Her evening classes are a combination of Betty Edwards' methods and her own tips, tricks and lessons that Sophie has learned along her own artistic path.

And so I have decided to pick up my drawing pencils again and do one of her classes.

It starts on Monday May 3rd and runs for 6 weeks (3 hours a week) and is $240... and I can't wait. I have spoken to Sophie on the phone and she sounds lovely and I am really looking forward to meeting her and doing the class.

She's looking for extra numbers, so go visit her website - drawing potential - give her a call, and take the plunge. Come join me.

One Little Acorn...

Image by Malcolm

(Thanks Mal)